Controlling or recording system



Nov, 25,

' Cangw'essed al Zine 5. A. ULMANN CONTROLLING OR RECORDING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fild June 15 1922 INVENTOR 06m? Aid/1mm BY 34m) A TTORNE YS Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR A. ULMANN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB TO 0. J. TAGLIABUE MFG. 00., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTROLLING 0R RECORDING SYSTEM.

Application filed June 15, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR A. ULMANN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of San Francisco, county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling or Recording Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus which are subject to operation by changes in the air of a predetermined zone, as exemplified, for instance, by temperature and humidity controlling and recording systems for controlling and recording temperature and humidity changes in the air of a chamber or kiln and which generally include a sensitive bulb and capillary tubing connected therewith. In such systems it has heretofore been necessary to locate the bulb and at least a part of the capillary tubing Within said predetermined zone or, in other words, to project the same into the chamber or kiln and within direct range of such conditions as may exist within the same. This is expensive because of the extensive length of the capillary connecting tubing required and furthermore because of conditions developed within said predetermined chamber or kiln whereby the metallic bulb and connecting tubing are destroyed and require replacement. The particular object of the present invention is to overcome these objections by providing a novel arrangement of maximum efficiency, in which the sensitive bulb and the connecting tubing are located entirely outside of the confines of said zone, chamber or kiln. Other more specific objects of my invention will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of the invention without defining its limits, Figure l is a perspective view of the apparatus applied to a lumber-drying kiln; Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of the apparatus on an enlarged scale, and

Serial No. 568,425.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view thereof with parts in section.

It will be understood that the installation shown in Fig. 1 has been chosen for illustrative and descriptive purposes only and is not be construed as in any way defining the limits of the fields of usefulness of the apparatus, the lumber-drying kiln being intended to exemplify a predetermined zone, chamber or the like.

The kiln 5, which maybe of any conventional construction, is provided with the cus tomary false flooring 6, upon which the stacks of lumber 7 to be dried are supported. Suitable heating devices, for instance in the form of steam coils 8, supply heat for heating the air within said kiln, while spraying devices 9 provide moisture whereby said air is humidified in the required manner. The heating coils 8 are connected by means of a steam line 10 with a source of steam supply, a diaphragm motor valve 11 of any well known type being provided for regulating the flow of steam through said line. The diaphragm motor valve 11 is connected by means of a pipe 12 with an automatic controlling device 13 located upon the kiln 5 and connected by means of a pipe 14, for instance with a source of compressed air. The elements 11, 12, 13 and 14: are intended to exemplify any conventional type of apparatus whereby the supply of heat to the kiln 5 is controlled in accordance with predetermined temperature conditions within said kiln; the elements are further intended to exemplify any conventional apparatus whereby the spraying devices 9 are automatically controlled in accordance with the predetermined conditions of humidity in said kiln. A recorder 15 of any well known type may be located upon the exterior of the kiln 5 and is intended to be representative of devices for recording either the temperature or the humidity within said kiln. The controller 13 is connected by means of a capillary tubing 16 with a sensitive bulb 17, while the recorder 15 is connected through specifically, within the kiln 5.

the medium of a similar capillary tubing 18 with a second sensitive bulb 19. Because of the metallic construction of said tubing 16 and 18 and bulbs 17 and 19, these elements are subject to injury, particularly in the case of lumber-drying kilns in which the acids given off by the lumber while the same is being steamed and dried within said kiln have a highly corrosive action on said tubes and bulbs whereby the same are quickly destroyed and rendered useless. In the present case the bulbs 17 and 19 are located within a cross fitting 20 which is connected with and carried by an induction pipe 21, as shown in Fig. 3. The induction pipe passes through a wall of the kiln 5 at any convenient location and terminates within the kiln at a point therein where the air will be of average temperature or humidity, or Wlll be otherwise representative of the conditions which it is intended to control or record. The pipe 21 and cross fitting 20, in addition to their other functions, constitute a means whereby the bulbs 17 and 19 and the tubing 16 and 18 are supported exteriorly of a predetermined zone or, specifically, of the kiln a), all parts of said bulbs and capillary tubing being outside of and removed from any harmful conditions which may be developed therein. The cross fitting 20 is connected by means of a branch pipe 22 with a T- fitting 23 which, in turn, communicates with a return pipe 24; extending into and terminating within a predetermined zone or, V The third outletof the T-fitting 23 is bushed to receive a pipe 25 which projects into said T-fitting for a distance, as shown in Fig. 3, and is connected by means of a pipe 26' with the steam line 10.

If desired, a mercurial thermometer 28 may be supported upon the branch pipe 22 with its bulb projecting into the same.

In practice, as steam passes through the line 10 into the heating coils 8, apart of such steam will pass through the pipe 26 and rush from the pipe 25 into the return pipe 24 and, acting upon the well known principle of an injector, develops suction in the branch pipe 22, cross fitting 20 and induction pipe 21, whereby air from the predetermined point within a predetermined zone, kiln or the like is drawn into the induction pipe 21 and constantly circulated through the circuit or conduit consisting of the pipes 21, 22 and 24 and the fittings 2 0 and 23. As this air thus circulates through said conduit from within that part of the kiln or its equivalent where an average condition of the air exists, it will contact with the bulbs 17' and 19 and exert its influence thereon, after which it passes back. into. the kiln through the return pipe 24; the effect of th s air will also be exerted upon the bulb of the mercurial thermometer 28 if the latter is included in the system. As a result of the above, the true effect of the air within the kiln or its equivalent, whether the same be temperature, humidity or other conditions, is exerted upon the bulbs 17 and 19 and upon the bulb of the thermometer 28, if the same is present, for the purpose of controlling, recording or indicating the temperature, humidity or the like in any. well known way. Because of the fact that the bulbs and the connecting tubing are located eXteriorly of the kiln or its equivalent and only the bulbs come into direct contact with the air from within said kiln or its equivalent, said bulbs only need be made acid-proof, the other elements being entirely outside of any direct effects of said air and consequently being protected against injury thereby. Furthermore, a better circulation of the air over the bulbs is secured and greater con vemence of application and installation is obtained. It will be understood, as previously mentioned herein, that while my novel system is described and illustrated in con nection with the control of temperature in a dry kiln, it is not confined to this use, but may be utilized for recording such temperature or for controlling and recording the humidity within a kiln or any other chamber or confined spaces included in the term predetermined zone.

The elements 8, 10 and 11, which in the illustrated example of the invention control the air within the kiln or other predetermined zone with respect to temperature conditions therein, are therefore to be construed, in addition to their described characteristies, as exemplified elements whereby the air within the kiln or other zone is automatically controlled with respect to conditions other than those relating to temperature or to conditions in which temperature repre sents only a part of the predetermined con dition desired.

Various modifications may be made with in the scope of the claims without departing from the nature of my invention.

1 claim: r I

1. The combination of thermo-sensitive means subject to operation by changes in the condition of the air of a predetermined zone, means. whereby said first means is located outside of the confines of said zone, and a closed circuit connected with said zone for causing air from a predetermined point within said zone to travel in contactwith said thermo-sensitive means and exert its effect thereon and then pass back into said zone. I

2. The combination of a bulb, a capillary tubing connected therewith, means whereby said bulb and tubing are supported exteriorly of the confines of a predetermined zone, and means whereby air from a predetermined point within said zone is caused to travel in contact with said bulb and exert its influence thereon'and then passed back into said zone.

3. The combination of a chamber, thermosensitive means located outside of said chamber and subject to operation by changes in the condition of the air within the same, means for varying the conditions of the air within said chamber and a conduit leading out of said chamber and back into same for causing air from a predetermined point therein to travel in contact with said thermosensitive means to exert its influence there on to control said varying means accordingly and to pass back into said chamber.

4. The combination of a chamber, a conduit projecting into said chamber and extending exteriorly thereof, thermo-sensitive means located in said conduit exteriorly of said chamber, and means for causing air from within said chamber to travel through said conduit in contact with said thermosensitive means and exert its influence thereon and then pass back into said Zone.

5. The combination of a chamber, a conduit located exteriorly thereof and having its opposite ends projecting into said chamber, a sensitive bulb located in said conduit exteriorly of said chamber, and means for introducing an element through said conduit into said chamber to vary the condi tions of the air therein and to establish a suction in said conduit whereby air from within said chamber is drawn over and in contact with said sensitive bulb to exert its influence thereon and then passed back to said chamber.

6. The combination of a chamber, two pipes projecting into said chamber and extending exteriorly thereof, a connection between said pipes exteriorly of said chamber to form a circuit, a sensitive bulb located within said circuit exteriorly of said chamber, and means for injecting a fluid through one of said pipes into said chamber to establish a suction in said circuit whereby air from within said chamber is drawn through the other pipe over and in contact with said bulb to exert its influence thereon and passed back into said chamber through said one pipe.

7. The combination of a chamber, a steam connection therewith whereby the temperature of the air within said chamber is varied, controlling means for said steam connection, a conduit located exteriorly of said chamber and having its opposite ends projecting into the same, a sensitive bulb located within said conduit exteriorly of said chamber, a capillary tubing located exteriorly of said chamber and connecting said bulb with said controlling means, and a branch connection from said steam connection to said conduit for developing suction in the latter, whereby air from Within said chamber is drawn through said conduit over and in contact with said bulb to actuate said controlling means in accordance with the tempera ture within said chamber and then passed back into the latter.

8. The combination of a chamber, a steam connection therewith whereby the temperature of the air within said chamber is varied, controlling means for said steam connection, a conduit located exteriorly of said chamber and having its opposite ends projecting into the same, a sensitive bulb located within said conduit exteriorly of said chamber, a capillary tubing located exteriorly of said chamber and connecting said bulb with said controlling means, a recording device, a second sensitive bulb located in said conduit exteriorly of said chamber, a second capillary tubing connecting said second bulb with said recording device, and an injector connecting said steam connection and said conduit for developing suction in the latter to withdraw air from within said chamber over and in contact with both of said bulbs and then back to said chamber whereby said controlling means and recording device are actuated in accordance with the temperature within said chamber.

9. The combination of a drying kiln, means whereby the condition of the air Within said kiln is varied, controlling means for said first means, a thermo-sensitive device sensitive to changes in air and located exteriorly of said kiln for actuating said controlling means, and means whereby air from a predetermined point within said kiln is brought into contact with said thermo-sensitive device to exert its effect thereon and thereby to operate said controlling means in accordance with the condition of the air within sai kiln and then passed back into said kiln.

10. The combination of a drying kihi, means whereby the condition of the air within said kiln is varied, a conduit having its inlet and outlet ends located within said kiln, and having a section located exteriorly thereof, controlling means for said first named means including a device sensitive to variations in the conditions of air, said device being located within that section of said conduit which lies exteriorly of said kiln, and an injector tube extending into said conduit for drawing air therethrough from said kiln and back into the same, said air in its passage through said conduit contacting with said device and causing the latter to operate said controlling means in accordance with the condition of said air.

11. A unit comprising a conduit having an inlet and outlet end, means for causing a fluid conduit through said current and thermo-sensitive means projecting into said conduit and into the path of said fluid current, said thermo-sensitive means being arranged: for connection With cooperative instrumentalities exteriorly of said conduit.

12. A unit comprising an induction pipe, a return pipe, a branch pipe connecting said induction and return pipe to form a conduit, injector means extending into said return pipe for setting up a fluid, currentwhich passes into the induction pipe and out of the return pipe and means sensitiveto. changes in said fluid current projecting into said 10 conduit and into the path of said fluid current, said sensitive means being arranged for connection with cooperative instrumentalities exteriorly of said; conduit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto 15 set my hand.

EDGAR A. ULMANN. 

